Electrical connection means



Jam, w49. c. s. PENjFoLD EASSQ? ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Original Filed April l, 1940 Fig. I.

f 11 1oeo151196 3539 Ni 1N VENTOR.

Patented Jan. 4, 1949 2,458,097 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Charles S. Penfold, Bronson,

H. A. Douglas Mfg.

poration of Michigan April 1, 1940, Serial No.

Original application 327,143, now Patent No. 2,318,650,

1943. Divided 1943, Serial N 476,986

(Cl. T13- 328) 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to electrical connection means and particularly to connectors adapted for detachable association with respect to a lamp or other electrical apparatus for establishing a through connection between the source, line and lamp. Y

More specically, the invention is directed to a connector provided with a plurality of terminal posts or receptacles, each of which is adapted to detachably receive and resiliently retain one of a plurality of terminal studs, which project from the rear extremity of a headlamp.

One particular object is to provide a connector having at least a single terminal post or receptacle that is associated with a mounting member of insulating material in such a manner that the receptacle may adjust itself to accommodate a terminal stud when the latter is inserted into the receptacle.

Another object is to provide a construction of the character just referred to, in which each receptacle is so constructed and arranged that it may be inserted into either end of an opening or aperture provided in the mounting and snapped securely in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a terminal receptacle which may be easily and quickly released from the mountingl `by which it is carried.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved auxiliary means on the receptacle for receiving a plug conductor terminal of the snap type, the arrangement being such that the latter may be attached to said auxiliary means before or after the receptacle is seated Within the mounting.

A still further object is to provide a connector that may be economically manufactured and assembled on a production basis.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent after considering the description hereinafter set forth -in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

This application is a division of my application entitled Electrical connection means, filed April l, 1940, Serial No. 327,143, now Patent No. 2,318,650, bearing date of May 11, 1943.

Referring to the drawing;

Figure l is a relatively small side view of one form of a connector embodying the invention, as applied to an electrical headlamp of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is a relatively large front or end view of the connector, showing one of the receptacles and conductors assembled therewith;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken. sub- Mich., assignor to Co., BronsomMich., a cordated May 11,

and this application February 24,

stantially on line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing certain details; Y

Figure 4 is a partial b nector showing the configuration of certain apertures;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3, through a receptacle;

Figure 6 is a surfac tacle; and

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section taken through a modified form of a connector.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, numeral generally designates a vehicle headlamp which is adapted to be supported within a suitable housing or to a mounting not shown, and 2 generally designates a connector which is adapted to be detachably connected to the headlamp. Obviously, the connector may be designed andconstructed for .use in connection with electrical apparatus other than a vehicle headlamp, and it is to be understood that the connector may be provided with one or a plurality of terminal receptacles, depending on the use or application of the connector.

The headlamp may be provided with any desirable number of terminal connections or studs, but as herein shown, is preferably provided with a terminal stud 3. and a pair of studs Il, the latter of which are arranged in spaced apart relation substantially equidistant from the focal axis of the headlamp, while stud 3 is located above said axis intermediate said studs 4. Only one of the studs Il is shown in Figure 1.A The studs 3 and i may be constructed as desired, but as herein shown, are preferably comprised of sheet metal, and formed with angular projections, which exe development of a receptend rearwardly of the headlamp, each projection being preferably provided with a circular aperture as clearly shown in Figure, the purpose of which will be described later. The free extremities of the studs are preferably made planar or flat, the extremity of 'the stud 3 being arranged horizontally and the extremities of studs preferably vertically or at right angles to the plane of stud 3.

The connector 2 includes a mounting or carrier preferably in the form of a block of moulded insulating material, and as clearly shown, is preferably provided with longitudinally extending substantiallyparallel tubular portions 5, 6, and 1, arranged more or less in triangular formation, the portions being provided with composite openings generally designated 9, I0, and Il, respectively, arranged in circumferential relation. The

ottom view of the contubular portions 5 through 1 are preferably joined together by suitable radially extending partitions.

In order to assist in assembling or disassembling the connector with respect to the terminal studs, the rear extremity of the mounting is preferably provided with a flange 8, preferably annular in form, except for a beveled portion adjacent its lower extremity. The portions of the flange, particularly intermediate the extremities of the Aportions 5 through 1, provide finger holds for assembling and disassembling the connector with respect to the lamp.

Inasmuch as the tubular portions, receptacles, and conductors are substantially identical, it is believed that a description of oneof the tubular portions and a receptacle will be sulcient. Re-

ferring to the tubular portion l, it will be noted that the composite opening I0 includes a passage I2 adapted to receive a resilient terminal receptacle I3. A Passage I2y is preferably rectangular in cross-section and bounded by side walls I4 and I5, and end walls I8, as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. The side wall I5 is shown as being composed of a pair of spaced apart parallel portions. The front extremity of the side wall I4 preferably terminates in av pair of spaced apart abutments I1, which project a predetermined distance across the front end of the opening I0, so as to provide-an entrance of a size slightly smaller than the cross-sectional size of said opening. The side wall I4 is also interrupted by a channel or slot I8 which preferably extends mounting. 'Ihe purpose of this slot will be described in detail later.

The opposite marginal side wall I5 of the passage I2 is interrupted by a generally circular or cylindrical terminal receiving channel or groove I9'. Thus, the channels or slots I8 and I9 are arranged substantially at right angles to the rectangular passage I2, and are communicatively connected together. Specifically, the passage is disposed tangentially to the channel I9. The

. outer extremity of each of the portions forming the wall I5 is preferably slightly offset to enlarge the opening I0, and provide a pair of shoulders or abutments20, spaced axially from the abutments I'I.

The receptacle I3 as shown in Figure 6, preferably takes the form of a latin cross, and includes a main extremity l2i aligned with a smaller extremity 22, and transverse wing portions 23. These extremities and wing portions are preferably made rectangular in form. The extremities are folded back upon themselves to provide spaced apart substantially parallel contacting leg portions 24 and 25 to forma U-shaped receptacle, jointed at one extremity by an offset substantially cylindrical portion 28, as clearly shown in Figure 3. However, it is desirable that the receptacle be provided with some desirable means in order to prolong its life by increasing its resiliency.

The yieldable contacting leg portion 24 near the portion 28 is preferably provided with an inwardly extending nger 21, which provides a stop for limiting the inward movement of the stud 3 on the lamp. The yieldable free end of portion 24 is curved outwardly as at 28 to resiliently engage the abutments I1. -In order to insure a good electrical contact between the stud 3 and the receptacle, the leg 24 Ais preferably provided with a pair of longitudinally inturned portions 29, which may be provided at any desirable locaentirely longitudinally through the' tion, but'as hereinshown, are preferably vformed by turning inwardly the marginal side edges, the front extremitiesof the portions 29 being preferably beveled, as indicated at 30, in order to provide cam surfaces assisting to guide the stud 3 more directly in between the leg portions of the receptacle.

The leg or contacting portion 25 of the receptacle is preferably provided with a detent 3| in the form of a rounded projection, which extends into the receptacle opposite the portions 29 for cooperation with the aperture 32 provided in the stud 3. The free extremity of the stud by engaging the stop 21 will position the aperture 32 to be received by the detent 3|, the stud being pressed to firmly engage the portions 28 to insure good electrical engagement. The free end 33 of the leg 25 is flared or curved outwardly substantially the same as the free end of the other leg so that the two together provide a tapered entrance opening for the stud. Yieldable tongues 34vare provided adjacent the free end 33, and project rearwardly .and outwardly to engage the abutments 20. Thus, the tongues 34 and free end 28 of the leg portions yield when the receptacle is being inserted into the insulation and prevent bodily displacement of the receptacle after it has once been snapped into place.

The leg 25 is also provided with an auxiliary terminal receptacle 35 which is preferably formed by bending the wing portions 23 into al substantially tubular cylindrical formation extending alongside said leg. An inturned projection 36 extends into the auxiliary receptacle to cooperate with a groove or cove 31 of a plug conductor terminal 38. This terminal is provided with cylindrlcal or annular portions which normally engage the inner walls of the receptacle 35, and an enlarged cylindrical skirt portion which receives the insulation, of a conductor 38, and limits the inward movement of the terminal whereby to position the groove 31 to receive the detent 3B for detachably retaining the terminal thereto.

As clearly shown by the dotted llneforms of the receptacle I3 in Figure 3, the same when made is slightly expanded, that is, the legs diverge. The receptacle may be inserted either from the front or back. Assuming it is assembled from the front, it is only necessary to insert and press the bight or cylindrical end 26 into the front end of passage I2 of the opening I0, until the tongues 34 provided on the leg 25 engage the abutments 20, whereupon the yieldable free` en'd 28 of the leg 24 snaps outwardly into engagement with the abutments I1, thereby locking the receptable in place. To assemble from the rear,

the free ends of the receptacle are pressed tothe plug conductor terminal 38 may be connected to the auxiliary receptacle 35 before or after the receptacle I3 is locked within the mounting, and

lmay be removed therefrom as desired without releasing the receptacle.

In some instances, it has been found desirable to provide means whereby the terminal receptacle may be easily and quickly disconnected from its Ammers 00er www so that a, common well ls provided between them, spaced detent means provided in said common UNITED STATES PATENTS wall for said receptacles whereby to assist in hold- Number Neszne Date lng conductor means adapted to beconnected to. 1,841,736 Times Jah. 19, 1932 said receptacles, one of seid receptacles being 5 1,982,501 Dougles Nov. 27, 193e comprised ofepalr of spreadable portions adapted 2,143,645 Carson Jan. 10, 1939 to cooperate with conductor means, and seid 2,158,003 Douglas May 9, 1939 spreada'ole portions on one receptacle having 2,153,004 Douglas May 9,1939 longitudinally spaced abutments constructed and 2,169,219 BIOWnStein Aug- 15, 1939 arranged to engage abutments on a, support for l0 2,257,317 Wade Sept. 30, 1911 holding the connection means with respect 2,318,650 Penfold May 11, 1943 thereto.

CHES S. PENFOLD.

REFERENCES `errno i5 

